The perpetrator has been identified.
The Hengmen sect is on the verge of collapse. The reason for their "Heng" (unyielding) nature lies in their hidden operations.
With the evidence now in hand, the state and its laws will absolutely not permit the existence of an organization that disrupts the normal lives of its citizens.
Before long, the key members of the Qin Prefecture Hengmen will either leave on their own accord or be apprehended and arrested.
With this shadowy force eliminated, Li Chonglou felt a heavy burden lifted from his shoulders.
Without the Hengmen sect as his pawn, Xu Tianhou would not be able to stir up much trouble in the near future.
There would be ample time to deal with him then.
"Chonglou, aren't we going after that Xu fellow?" Xu Lie asked on the way back to the hospital.
"Let him live a little longer. Within a month, he'll be bankrupt. For him, death might be less terrifying than living a life of betrayal, losing everything!" Li Chonglou's eyes glinted with a palpable intensity.
To plot against his wife, to harm his mother.
For such a person, only by plunging him into the deepest darkness of despair could his hatred be appeased!
Xu Lie was shaken.
Li Chonglou had always spoken with the most placid words while enacting the most ruthless deeds against his enemies.
But this time, even he could clearly sense the hatred Li Chonglou held for Xu Tianhou.
This man was utterly finished.
"Brother Xu, how much do you know about ancient martial arts?" Li Chonglou asked, his gaze softening slightly, his eyelids fluttering.
"They're like ornamental pillows, all show and no substance," Xu Lie chuckled. "When I was just starting out years ago, I ran into a few practitioners of ancient martial arts. They were incredibly arrogant."
"As a result, I knocked them to the ground with just two punches, begging for mercy."
"Bringing those health-and-wellness practices to the ring is just asking for a beating!"
It was easy to tell that Xu Lie held a dismissive attitude towards ancient martial arts.
This was understandable.
In today's society, very few people make a living through sheer martial prowess. Professionals like Xu Lie, underground boxers, were one in ten thousand.
Some people, out of necessity, had to publicize ancient martial arts to swindle money.
However, lacking the time or inclination for rigorous training, they were all bark and no bite.
The moment they stepped into the ring, their true nature was exposed.
They had become the laughingstock of modern combat.
"Nothing is absolute. There's no hierarchy in fists, only in people," Li Chonglou said after a moment of silence. "I encountered someone who practiced ancient martial arts, and in front of him, I didn't even have a chance to retaliate."
"An enemy? Or a friend?" Xu Lie's eyes narrowed, his expression shifting.
When he first met Li Chonglou, Li Chonglou had been frail and weak.
But after his accident, his physical condition had inexplicably strengthened.
Perhaps the brush with death had stimulated his potential.
Even though it had only been a week.
The current Li Chonglou, purely based on strength and reaction speed, far surpassed ordinary people. Of course, he was still no match for a true master.
However, it was unlikely he would be so helpless against an ancient martial arts practitioner that he couldn't even resist.
"An enemy, which is why I want to train my fists." Li Chonglou didn't elaborate further.
Xu Lie didn't pry.
He knew that if Li Chonglou needed him, he would be informed.
The fact that he was only learning about this now meant that Li Chonglou didn't want him to be distracted.
For Li Chonglou, his mother's life was more important than his own.
That was why he only revealed this matter after resolving the issue with Tong Chuan.
"Understood. Come with me to the boxing gym tomorrow," Xu Lie grinned.
"You can drive the car back first. No need to rush to return it to Chen Zhenghe. Tomorrow morning, we'll go to a 4S shop and pick out a car for you," Li Chonglou changed the subject. "You'll need to travel more from now on, and it's inconvenient without a car."
"You got it!"
Upon returning to the hospital, Li Chonglou entered his mother's ward.
Jiang Yuxin was also there. Not only that, but his mother-in-law, Liu Zhiru, had surprisingly come with fruit and supplements to visit his mother.
Seeing Li Chonglou enter, Liu Zhiru's expression showed a hint of awkwardness.
"Mom, Mom." Li Chonglou pretended not to notice, greeting them both equally.
"Chonglou."
Jiang Yuxin, her pretty face slightly flushed, stepped forward and whispered into his ear, "My mom wanted to visit. I hope you don't hold what happened before against us."
Ever since the elder Mr. Jiang had personally called Jiang Yuxin back to the company yesterday and promoted her to general manager, Liu Zhiru's impression of Li Chonglou had been forcibly reshaped.
After all, seeing was believing. Li Chonglou was genuinely fighting for the interests of her and her daughter.
Although this live-in son-in-law had yet to achieve anything remarkable, nor did he even have a decent job, after witnessing his methods on several occasions, Liu Zhiru, while not saying it aloud, felt a sense of unease.
After all, if the marriage couldn't be dissolved, they still had to coexist.
Coupled with her husband calling her to advise against constantly opposing Li Chonglou and causing their daughter to be caught in the middle, she had decided to make a perfunctory visit to the hospital, seeking a way to save face.
"No problem, she's your mom, and she's my mom too," Li Chonglou nodded with a smile.
Jiang Yuxin breathed a sigh of relief.
A trace of admiration flickered in her beautiful eyes.
This man, after three years as a live-in son-in-law, had endured three years of his mother-in-law's constant criticism, swallowing his pride and behaving himself.
Only in the past few days had he acted out of character, showing his accumulated strength and single-handedly confronting the entire Jiang family, forcefully changing his mother-in-law's perception.
"My dear, thank you for your care over these years. It's all thanks to you that we've come this far," Zheng Xiumei said, holding Liu Zhiru's hand, her smile sincere and warm.
But Liu Zhiru's ears turned red, her face flushed with embarrassment as she offered a stiff smile.
"Mom, you two chat. I have something to talk to him about." Jiang Yuxin looked uncomfortable and quickly pulled Li Chonglou out of the ward.
At the corner of the elevator shaft, Jiang Yuxin released Li Chonglou, crossed her arms, and said, "Grandpa has now handed over the Jiang family's company to me. I've also contacted the eldest daughter of the Lu family, and the bidding conference can proceed tomorrow."
"I hope the results will be as I wish."
Li Chonglou inwardly murmured "Of course."
After all, this bidding was tailor-made for her.
"If the cooperation is established and with the Lu family's support, the company's strength will increase significantly in a short period," Jiang Yuxin continued, not noticing Li Chonglou's expression. "At that point, there will be countless people in the family wanting to join the company. If you're unwilling to take a position now, it will be difficult to join later."
She genuinely cared about Li Chonglou's future.
After all, he was her husband, and the Jiang family was a family enterprise. It wasn't against the rules or embarrassing for a couple to work in the same company.
If he couldn't get ahead by being so close, it would be incredibly difficult for Li Chonglou to make a name for himself.
"I have my own things to do. I don't think highly of the Jiang family," Li Chonglou, understanding Jiang Yuxin's thoughts, no longer beat around the bush and flatly refused.
These arrogant words made Jiang Yuxin's pretty face freeze.
Her beautiful eyes couldn't help but show a hint of displeasure.
Li Chonglou's words implied that he didn't think highly of her either.
Although she knew very well that Li Chonglou was boasting, she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable for some reason.
Worry made her irrational; this discomfort was completely different from her previous dislike.
"Alright, break off all cooperation with Xu's. I've received news that Xu's will be bankrupt within a month." Li Chonglou, realizing his words were too harsh, subtly changed the subject.
"How did you know Xu's was looking to cooperate with us again?" As expected, the displeasure in Jiang Yuxin's eyes turned to surprise.
"Human nature is driven by profit," Li Chonglou said faintly. "The Jiang family's participation in the Lu family's bidding is no secret. This process is short, and regardless of success or failure, there's an opportunity to board the Lu family's grand ship."
"A cunning businessman like Xu Tianhou wouldn't stand by and watch such a golden opportunity slip away."
"Therefore, he'll pretend as if nothing happened, offering a carrot after a stick."
"But he's at the end of his rope. The Jiang family doesn't need him anymore."
In reality, the fact that the Lu family had opened a special bidding for the Jiang family was something anyone with a bit of experience and cunning could see.
What company would directly close a bidding process just because the other party changed their representative at the last minute?
Wouldn't that be equivalent to disregarding all other bidding companies?
Without insider dealings, it would be impossible.
Jiang Yuxin not seeing this didn't mean she was foolish; it was that worry had clouded her judgment. She simply had no mind to overthink, and subconsciously, she felt it unlikely the Lu family would set such a precedent for the Jiang family.
But Xu Tianhou was different. With a little money, he could easily ascertain the Lu family's intention to support the Jiang family.
If he didn't try to get close at this point, wouldn't he be a fool?
Unfortunately, he had personally ruined his own future and opportunities. Li Chonglou would never allow such a beast, who coveted his wife and harmed his mother, to have any further connection with the Jiang family.
"But, the situation is still uncertain. What if the cooperation with the Lu family fails, and we also drive away Xu's? We'll be in a lot of trouble," Jiang Yuxin said hesitantly.
"Trust me, there won't be any unexpected events." The confidence emanating from Li Chonglou made Jiang Yuxin tremble.
She didn't know where this confidence came from, but she couldn't help but want to believe it.
Coupled with her dislike for Xu Tianhou and the incident with her father last time, she thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.
They chatted for a while. Seeing that it was getting late, they returned to the ward.
Liu Zhiru took the opportunity to get up and leave.
Li Chonglou escorted them out of the ward.
"Alas, one's fate is truly unpredictable. Li Chonglou, you haven't really done anything wrong," Liu Zhiru said as she walked, as if trying to regain some dignity. "Your only mistake is your lack of achievements. It's difficult for a man without ability to establish himself in society. My daughter is so outstanding; you shouldn't blame us for looking down on you before."
"I won't take it to heart," Li Chonglou replied with a nod.
There was no hint of displeasure on his face, which instead made Liu Zhiru grit her teeth and curse inwardly.
It was like punching cotton, completely lacking any purchase.
She had to be more direct: "You know, I've been married into the Jiang family for so many years, and I've never lived a good life."
"Now that I'm older, if you two really want to move back into that small apartment, won't it be too cramped?"
"I think you should buy a new house as soon as possible."
"Do you understand what I mean?"
Hearing this, Jiang Yuxin inwardly worried; her mother still hadn't fully accepted Li Chonglou.
Her meaning was that if Li Chonglou couldn't afford a house, he shouldn't move back in.
"I understand. I'll buy a house. Don't worry, Mom," Li Chonglou, who understood perfectly, readily agreed.
"It can't be too small. I can't bear to see Yuxin suffer such grievances." Liu Zhiru, not expecting Li Chonglou to agree so readily, regretted that her condition was too simple. She added another sentence.
"Okay, I'll buy a villa." Li Chonglou still showed no displeasure.
"You can really boast. A villa, you say? I'd be overjoyed if you could afford a garden apartment. You don't need to placate me like this." Liu Zhiru's face instantly fell. Just as the elevator arrived, she stepped in indignantly and left without a word.